Oilers claim Travis Dermott off waivers; Penguins waive Matt Nieto

The Edmonton Oilers have claimed Travis Dermott off waivers from the Minnesota Wild.

This will be Dermott’s second go with the Oilers following a 10-game stint earlier in the season before being placed on waivers.

The 28-year-old defenseman has appeared in nine games with Minnesota 

Dermott spent the 2023-24 campaign with the Arizona Coyotes, now known as the Utah Hockey Club. The Newmarket, Ontario native appeared in 50 games, missing some due to injury. He scored two goals and seven points, finishing with a plus/minus rating of -14.

The injury bug has followed Dermott around for the past couple of years. In 2022-23 with the Vancouver Canucks, he played in just 11 games, missing almost three months after suffering a concussion during the preseason. The closest he has ever come to playing a full season in the NHL was during the 2018-19 campaign when Dermott played 64 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Across eight seasons in the NHL, Dermott has played 339 games, scoring 16 goals and 46 assists with a +15 rating. He has also appeared in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games, all with the Leafs. Over that time, he scored two goals and three assists with a -5 rating.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins have placed Matt Nieto on waivers. If Nieto clears, he will be assigned to the Penguins’ AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The veteran forward has tallied three points in 31 games this season and has seen action in the AHL. On July 1, 2023, the Long Beach, California native signed a two-year deal worth $1.8 million.

Throughout his career, he has appeared in 704 NHL games over nine seasons, collecting 87 goals and 119 assists for 206 points.